Digging for buried treasure in the snow

Published January 31, 2014 at 10:30 am

Bundled and wrapped and booted and gloved, some three dozen children dug for buried treasure on a frigid winter’s day.

The Jan. 25 Coon Rapids Snowflake Days Kids’ Medallion Hunt attracted those children to Al Flynn Park where they dove into the snowy ground, digging to find two medallions – one for the boys’ hunt, one for the girls’ event.

Isabella Nelson, 6, was the winner of the girls’ division. Ashton White, 8, claimed victory in the boys’ hunt.

In addition to the medallion, Isabella and Ashton each received a $200 gift card to Jerry’s Schwinn bike, skate and disc golf shop.

The Coon Rapids Firefighters Local 1935 donated those prizes and then welcomed the children and their parents into Station 1 for a tour of the trucks and a pair of Zodiac rescue boats.

Firefighters also served hot chocolate and answered questions about their job battling blazes in and around Coon Rapids.

Miss Coon Rapids Kayla Brown, Miss Coon Rapids Outstanding Teen Brianna Smith and Snowflake Days Marquis John Leggate were also on hand to greet and congratulate the children on this, the 50th anniversary of the Snowflake Days celebration in Coon Rapids.